Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate Gurajada Apparao University though remote from Viskhapatnam on Wednesday.

This was disclosed by Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G. Nageswara Rao at the inaugural of the two-day Tribal Culture Festival being organised by Tribal Student Federation (TSF), here on Monday.

The new university will operate from Vizianagaram, Mr. Nageswara Rao said, adding that Vizianagaram was the only district in Andhra Pradesh that did not have a State university.

For the time being, some campuses under the purview of Andhra University and the JNTU in Vizianagaram have been clubbed to form the new university.

“The university will function as any other State varsities and the AU will pay as its mentor fior now,” Mr. Nageswara Rao said.

New courses

Referring to the Central Tribal University (CTU) that is coming up at Relli village of Visakhapatnam district, he said it will start functioning from this academic year and urged the TSF members to submit their suggestions pertaining to the courses likely to be offered by the institution.

“Andhra University is mentoring the new tribal varsity. It will be of immense help, if you (TSF members) do some research and submit a project suggesting courses that would help the tribal students. As of now, we are beginning with post graduation programmes in tribal studies, tribal languages, tribal literature and MSc. course in ethnobotany,” Mr. Nageswara Rao said.

The government has already allotted 522 acres at Relli village for the CTU and the Centre has earmarked ₹500 crore for the university.

Two-day fest

Appreciating tribal culture, the V-C said that it was tribal people who had kept the nature close to their heart and culture. The two-day festival will highlight various tribal cultures from all the 13 districts in the State, TSF national secretary M. Vishnu Nayak said.

Different forms of dances, folklore, songs and other cultural aspects will be showcased during the two-day meet, TSF State secretary Appala Nayak added.

Tribal students from Araku and other artists gave scintillating performances of dances such as Dhimsa and Kommu at the inaugural.